Breeders' Cup Friday: A guide to playing the $1million Ultra Pick 6

Combination bets can be the bane of many a sensible punter, the alluring sums on offer often far too tempting, but with many recognisable form lines on offer at the Breeders' Cup it is well worth a dabble.

An example of the kind of pay outs on offer can be found by looking back to last year, where the Friday Pick 6 yielded $444,571 and the Pick 4 generated $11,714 to a $1 stake. That sort of dividend is far too attractive for a weak-minded individual like me, so I'm going to have a crack at both the Pick 4 and the Pick 6. All we need is six winners, no problems.

20:06 - Juvenile Sprint
Tom Dascombe is represented by Ceiling Kitty here, but the two to take are Merit Man and Super Ninety Nine. It is by no means the strongest event of the weekend and, with both capable of improving, we have a decent chance of making it through the first leg.

20:48 - Marathon
It is tempting to include the Irish-trained duo of Fame And Glory and Sense of Purpose but, with neither proven on the surface, it is sensible to take only one of them, and we will side with the former. Blinkers on for the first time could bring about some of the old sparkle, and if anywhere near his best he should be bang there. Atigun is the only three-year-old in the line-up but this test could be the making of him, having shaped as if he'd stay when finishing third in the Belmont Stakes, so he certainly warrants inclusion.

21:28 - Juvenile Fillies Turf
With any luck we will still be running in the Pick 6 but, if not, do not fear, as this is where the Pick 4 gets underway. This is quite a competitive affair so we want three on our side, namely Waterway Run, Sky Lantern and Spring Venture.

22:08 - Juvenile Fillies
This looks to be between the unbeaten trio Kuai Katie, Dreaming of Julia and Executiveprivilege but, with the first mentioned unproven over this trip, we will side with the latter duo and hope that Kuai Katie does not stay the extended mile.

22:48 - Filly & Mare Turf
This presents our sole opportunity to save lines, as The Fugue looks to hold outstanding claims. This race, and track, appear tailor-made for the three-year-old and she is a confident selection to land the spoils.

23:30 - Ladies Classic
Royal Delta may not find it as easy as 12 months ago, but she looks to have a solid chance of defending her crown and appeals as a solid starting point. It is tempting to take the unbeaten Awesome Feather as a back-up selection but she has clearly had her problems to have only raced four times since the end of 2010 so a safer bet could be Questing, who lost nothing in defeat when trying to concede 7 lb to My Miss Aurelia last time and has taken her form to another level since switching to the US.

With any luck we will end the night drowning ourselves in champagne having nailed each of the six races, but landing the Pick 4 would be a definite boon nonetheless. It promises to be an excellent evening of racing but also serves as an appetiser for Saturday's fare.

Pick 6 Selections:
20:06 - 3, 5
20:48 - 1, 2
21:28 - 3, 5, 10
22:08 - 2, 5
22:48 - 4
23:30 - 4, 6
= 48 lines

Pick 4 Selections:
21:28 - 3, 5, 10
22:08 - 2, 5
22:48 - 4
23:30 - 4, 6
= 12 lines

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